When hanji is put into epoxy resin, the paper soaks up the fluid and solidifies in the form of a panel. The panels are carved and connected into furniture, while hanji’s unique patterns can be seen through its transparent surface. This is how Son Sang-woo, a furniture designer, makes his works. Hanji is traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark. As the bark’s texture is visible on the paper, Son’s works display unique patterns and gloss. “Many people are curious wh

Oh Eun-young, a prominent South Korean child psychiatrist, is set to host an upcoming talk concert through which she hopes to raise awareness for people with disabilities and promote respect and understanding for them. "What is most needed in families who have someone who is disabled is attention and hope. I promised to create content involving people with disabilities early last year, and this talk concert marks the beginning of that commitment," she said during a press conference, Th

South Korea's content-related exports and sales reached a new record in 2022, an industry survey report showed Friday, reflecting the global popularity of Korean pop culture. The content industry's exports reached $13.24 billion in 2022, a 6.3 percent rise from the previous year's $12.45 billion, according to a 2022 research study on the cultural content industry conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The content industry encompasses 11 different sectors, incl

Moxy Seoul Myeongdong presents special staycation package Located in one of Seoul’s main tourist districts, Moxy Seoul Myeongdong offers the “Beauty Hunter” package to quench beauty enthusiasts’ thirst. The promotion presents an opportunity to experience Korean beauty, food and culture with a one-day stay at the hotel. Guests receive a free welcoming drink after check-in. The hotel also offers five sheet masks from vegan beauty brand Lapcos. The package includes the oppor

All-in-one park in Paju At First Garden Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, visitors can try everything from riding a train that runs across the park to fishing for smelt. Street food is available too. The festivities run through the end of February. All-inclusive tickets, covering up to six attractions and sledding without snow, are priced at 27,000 won for admissions starting at 11 a.m., and 23,000 won for those entering the park after 1 p.m. The fees are the same for adults and children. For

A world-renowned annual ice fishing festival is to kick off in Hwacheon, a remote mountain town in the northeastern province of Gangwon, on Saturday, organizers said. The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will continue for 23 days through Jan. 28 in Hwacheon, located just 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border and about 90 km northeast of Seoul, the organizers said Thursday. Sancheoneo is a species of trout known to live only in very clean fresh water. This year's festival is ex

The National Museum of Korea and its 13 regional museums across the country attracted 10,471,154 visitors combined last year, breaking through the barrier of 10 million for the first time. According to the state-run institution on Thursday, the number of visitors rose 17.1 percent on-year, exceeding the previous record of 9,980,837 in 2019. NMK officials attribute the surge to special exhibitions regularly held at museums, citing in particular collections donated by the late Samsung Group Chairm

South Korea will step up security efforts to prevent vandalism of its historic sites, following nighttime graffiti incidents on the walls of Gyeongbokgung two weeks ago, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday. The measures unveiled by the CHA will center on increasing police patrols and the number of surveillance cameras, reaching up to 110 overall. According to the agency, the country’s popular royal palaces as well as tombs and a shrine in Seoul -- all connected to

Galleries come and go with the changing tides of the art market. When the market booms, new galleries mushroom, but in lean times, many disappear. Chung Seung-jin, director of G Gallery in Seoul, has held on to her commitment to art, and her gallery, for the past 10 years. The gallery was first founded in 2013 in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, and moved to Cheongdam-dong, an affluent neighborhood in southern Seoul, four years later to meet more collectors. “The last 10 years were never easy.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will implement various cultural, sports and tourism policies focusing on youth, vulnerable groups, culture-related companies and regional development in 2024. Support for youth and vulnerable groups has been expanded, including an increase in the subsidy for integrated cultural use cards, the ministry said. For instance, to provide cultural experiences to those who have become legal adults this year, a pilot program called the Culture and Arts

Several concerts are set to take place throughout the month of January, ringing in the new year. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold New Year's concerts Friday and Saturday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the Seoul Arts Center, respectively. Friday's performance will feature conductor Sung Si-yeon and violinist Yang In-mo as the guest performer. The concert on Saturday, organized by the Daewon Cultural Foundation, will have pianist Son Yeol-eum as the guest pe

From getting a job to wishing for a recovery from the pandemic, five people born in the Year of the Dragon share their hopes for the coming year

For many Koreans, watching the sunrise on New Year’s Day is an important ritual, where wishes are often made for the days and months to come. The routine is typically enriched with celebrations across the nation, featuring vibrant musical performances and events to add to the New Year atmosphere. Sky Park in Seoul Located in Mapo-gu, the park is an ideal place for those who want to see the sunrise without having to travel far from the capital. The area’s district office said this w

A total of 8,171 Koreans and foreign nationals enjoyed Korea’s intangible cultural heritage performances this year, according to the National Intangible Heritage Center on Thursday. The center, run by the Cultural Heritage Administration, said shows took place 36 times between May and December, mostly in the two halls the center operates in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, where the center has its headquarters. The highlight of the performances was the K-Festival, which was held in Berlin on

Chinese zodiac is a system of belief that assigns an animal to each year and assumes one's fate is closely linked to this classification. As such, there are "lucky" and "unlucky" years for each person. In the year 2024, which is the year of the blue dragon, those born in the year of the monkey are expected to be lucky. The dragon and the monkey are part of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac system, in the order of: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, mo